That was all put into doubt following the initial weigh-in on Friday, although Hendricks went off to cut some extra poundage, returned, and eventually made weight, keeping the championship bout fully intact.

Hendricks first stepped on the scale (watch the video here), weighing in at 171.5 pounds on Friday. Even after dropping his shorts, standing behind a towel stark naked, he was still 1.5 pounds over the 170-pound limit for a welterweight title fight. Non-title bouts have a one-pound allowance, but not championship bouts.

A look of shock crawled across Hendricks’ face as he appeared to battle for a grasp on what had just happened, his title hopes going blurry before his eyes.

As it was, Hendricks, already looking pallid from the weight cut, was given two more hours to try and get down to the 170-pound mark.

If he made it, fine, it’s a title fight. If he didn’t, then the Texas Commission, according to UFC president Dana White, ruled that Hendricks and Lawler would still fight, but that Hendricks would not get the belt should he win, the belt would remain vacant. Lawler, however, would earn the championship should he defeat an overweight Hendricks, since Lawler met the mark.

All of that became moot, however, when Hendricks returned to the scale just before 7 p.m. ET, weighing in at 170 pounds on the nose on his final attempt.

The UFC 171 main event remains a battle between Hendricks and Lawler with the winner walking away with UFC gold around his waist.

water weight. Sweated it out. not actually hard, but he probably was dropping much more earlier in the day. he will gain a lot of weight before the fight.

Rory M.

“not actually hard”
Are you speaking from experience after cutting 20lbs?

Evan Levenseller

Dolce has his guys going down anywhere from 15-30 pounds of water weight, it really isn’t hard its all about setting your body up to do it. Then when they go in the fight they have all that weight back in their body.

Using the bathroom and sweating. I’ve cut 1.5 in an hour before to make weight for a wrestling tournament.

taylor2008

Sweating like crazy and going to the bathroom as much as you can.

Brent

Thank God as I am going to my first live UFC here in Dallas. Thank you Johnny for keeping the main event a true title fight!

Hellscreamgold

Just think – the main event was supposed to be Jones/Gustaffson….

When they changed the card, we decided not to bother.

Jon Doe

He has stated many times his weight of 195 during his fights, that just gives you insight on just how severe the cut is. For those who don’t know, just imagine playing basketball/football/soccer all day but instead you’re not allowed to drink gatorade/water. Now add to that not eating anything in the morning when you wake. We all know how this feels, you’re starving, you’re thirsty and you are dehydrated minus 25 lbs of precious liquid flowing through your veins. You feel sick, lighted headed, mouth dry and most importantly you feel weak. Like a little kitten, I use to cut for wrestling back in the day, it is no fun but you do get to sip on honey as to not chew off your own lips from hunger.

el che

“If he made it, fine, it’s a title fight. If he didn’t, then the Texas Commission, according to UFC president Dana White, ruled that Hendricks and Lawler would still fight, but that Hendricks would not get the belt should he win, the belt would remain vacant. Lawler, however, would earn the championship should he defeat an overweight Hendricks, since Lawler met the mark.”

^ if i was Chael (and i’m not even a fan of his but i do respect him as a fighter), i’d be pissed that he got shafted from winning the WEC belt off of Filho via a similar manner and that they, the Texan Commission, would’ve allowed Robbie to win the strap under such similar circumstances.

Jimmy Rebel

that’s because the UFC is a much bigger organization, and this card is VERY important for the welterweight division. to have this card end up with no one getting a title would put a huge damper on the entire card. it’s similar to how the mood was after Rashad had to pull out of UFC 170.

dgs

Maybe one day the dream will be realized that weigh-ins occur the day of the fight. That would stop all this bu!!shit weight cutting and we would see fighters fighting in their true weight class.

taylor2008

I dont see that ever happening. These fighters that usually weigh 185 or 190 want to drop to 170. If someone was a true 170 all the time chances are they will get beat because that guy dropping weight will be back to 180 to 185 the next day.

Me

Which is why dgs is advocating same day weigh-in’s.

Jimmy Rebel

I think it’s funny how awkward it was when he first didn’t make weight. it’s like MMA fans subconsciously know what that means. when he wins, he won’t get the title. it caused open jaws and silence because pretty much everyone knows Hendricks wins this fight.

Dale Mason

If Robby Lawler could take the same punch he throws…he would be champ for a while…His chin won’t let him win…….

bajafox

Dolce had to be shitting bricks, to have a world title contender miss weight on his watch. Gastelum missed weight too, even though Dolce did not monitor him he does practice the Dolce diet.

diazfan209

good to see him coming through in the clutch!

SoCal Brew Review

Lawler will shock the world but not himself. He walks home with UFC Gold. He 100% believes it. Hendricks did not believe it tonight. Hendricks looked like a bag full of dehydrated assholes on the scale and you could tell he didn’t think he made it but was just so hoping to keep the dream alive. I like Hendricks but tomorrow will not be his night.